Hello everyone!
It has been almost two months since I sent out a newsletter. I am reminded of the words of a good friend who also put off writing a newsletter until she could not delay any longer. Well, I am now at the point of “cannot wait any longer”, so I decided to put some thoughts to paper.
Well, today, at our Christian Fellowship meeting (in the workplace), we had a very dynamic and vibrant guest speaker – Elizabeth Robertson Campbell. She came to share her life story, that has been released in a book, called “THE CHOICE”. It deals with the choice she made, to boldly declare Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour, and it cost her dearly, as she could not get married to a man that she dearly loved. However, the story has a fairytale ending, she is now happily married and still serving Jesus!
God has proven Himself to us over and over this year (even though I still need to exercise my faith a lot!!) and has blessed us with so much that I stand amazed how far we have come as a family this year. Eg my sons are doing very well at school and Justin recently completed a 50km hike with the scouts. Ethan has taken up cross-country running and we can see that he is losing weight. Judy is our pillar of strength and without her faith, I would not make it. She is involved in the counselling team at church. I realise more and more that it is a God-fearing wife and mother that holds a family together!
It is going great at church. We are experiencing growth, not just in numbers, but spiritually as well. Our pastor has been teaching on Ephesians and we are now in a season of a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit and being continually filled with the Spirit.
Ministry:
The “Million for Missions” project is going slowly, but individuals have sowed into the project. I am continuing to believe that we WILL achieve our goal of raising the R1m to build the new missions station in Kabwe, Zambia. So, if you know someone or a corporation that wants to sow into missions (someone who has $1m lying around doing nothing ha! ha!) , please send their contact details to me so that I can connect them to Pro Christo Global missions.
Speaking of Zambia, in less than a month (1 August) Judy and I are leaving on our 3rd trip to Zambia. And the best news of all, God has supplied our financial needs and our air tickets have been fully paid by generous sowers. I recently also met a pastor, who has invited me to minister at his church in Lusaka, while we are in Zambia. God is opening new doors of ministry in our lives. It’s amazing how God changes your thinking and how He expands your limits.
A while back, I would have just thought of the next trip (ie Zambia in August 2007), however, God has already got me thinking about our invitation to Uganda in 2008! I have been invited to lead Worship at a men’s conference. Please pray and believe with me that God will supply our needs for that trip. The funny thing is that these trips are not for my personal gratification. God has changed my thinking from self interest to “How can I fulfill the GREAT COMMISSION”
Next week I (together with the CCFM Musicmakers Worship training group) will be hosting a Worship leader seminar with Tom Inglis, who ministered in South Africa about 15-20 years ago. His vision is for Worshippers to life a lifestyle of Worship. This is pretty much what God has impressed on me for the last 7 years as well and I am honored to be part of this initiative.
Anyway – I am off for now, please email me to confirm that you have received this. I know not everyone is an email junkie, but it is good to hear from you all around the world and to know the great things that God is doing in your lives as well.
God Bless you all
DARRYL and JUDY LAWRENCE
(and Justin & Ethan as well)... and not forgetting our 2 cats and 2 dogs!
